Hive Five August Post

I'm Nancy Zimmerman, and I live in Northern Virginia with my husband and nearly four year old little boy. My husband, Brad, and I are both teachers in Fairfax County; he is a middle school band director and I teach third grade.

Needless to say, we enjoy every minute of our summer vacations, especially since our son, Andy, came along!  Lately we've been spending most of our time at either our neighborhood pool or our neighborhood playground.  And now that I think about it, we need to get a picture of all three of us this summer too!

I have my mom to thank for introducing me to my favorite hobby.  Thanks to her, our home is filled with so many beautiful wall hangings and lap quilts.  Her most recent gift to us is a set of 12 mini applique quilts, one for each month!  They are charming!

Mom's mini July quilt in our foyer 

My mom taught me how to quilt about 10 years ago, and over the years we have spent hours either together or on the phone talking about fabric, measurements, patterns, or our next projects.  I have always treasured that time with her, and I haven't yet finished a project without asking for her advice or suggestions!

We have a guest bedroom that long ago became less a guest bedroom and much more a sewing room!  It all started when my dad made this fantastic board to hang supplies, and then the next thing I knew fabric just took over the room.  Last summer, I took off the closet doors and sorted my stash in a bookshelf.  And over our last Spring Break, my husband hung these great hanging shelves, which naturally are filled with baskets of quilting notions and supplies.

The notions board my dad made next to my design wall...

My sewing corner in the guest/sewing room

Brad hung these shelves for me!

One thing that has vastly improved my quilting is the internet!  When I started quilting, I relied on books and my mom.  Now, if I want to learn a new technique or wonder about a new tool (and Mom isn't home :), I can check the internet for videos or tutorials.  I've also discovered modern designers and modern quilting fabrics because of the internet.  I've met great friends, Sarah and Jansen, who have great modern tastes in fabric, and I just love all the choices we have online and in local quilt shops!  Currently, my favorite prints are whimsical prints like those of Aneela Hooey and Riley Blake, and I also love Thimble Blossoms and Lizzy House.  Recently, I started a lap quilt for Brad with Road 15 (I just adore those little houses and those text prints), and I just finished a Nook cover with Kate Spain's Sunnyside fabrics.

My most recent finish - a lap quilt in Noteworthy by Moda

Okay, so my block choice is my absolute favorite block.  It's a traditional churn dash with a modern twist!  I have always wanted a churn dash quilt but have never made one!

Churn Dash Fabric Color:  greens, green to greenish blues, or teals (no neons please)
Background Fabric: neutrals, low volume prints, except bright whites or bright white on whites. Text prints welcome!
*Please have the middle square be the same as the background neutral fabric.

I found a fantastic tutorial at A Quilting Life here. I love her directions, and I hope you find them as easy as I did.  The block finishes at 12 and 1/2 inches.

Thank you in advance for making this block for me!

My example